On Wednesday, Google released version 30.0.1599.66 of its Chrome web browser. The update, a 53.7 megabyte download, adds the following fixes and changes:

Fixes and Improvements:
– Easier searching by image.

– A number of new apps/extension APIs.

– Lots of under the hood changes for stability and performance.

Security Fixes:
– Races in Web Audio.

– Out of bounds read in Window.prototype object.

– Address bar spoofing related to the “204 No Content” status code.

– Use after free in inline-block rendering.

– Use-after-free in Web Audio.

– Use-after-free in XSLT.

– Use-after-free in PPAPI.

– Use-after-free in XML document parsing.

– Use after free in the Windows color chooser dialog.

– Address bar spoofing via a malformed scheme.

– Address bar spoofing related to the “204 No Content” status code.

– Out of bounds read in Web Audio.

– Use-after-free in DOM.

– Memory corruption in V8.

– Out of bounds read in URL parsing.

– Use-after-free in resource loader.

– Use-after-free in template element.

– Various fixes from internal audits, fuzzing and other initiatives (Chrome 30).

– Use-after-free in ICU.

Google Chrome 30.0.1599.66 requires an Intel-based Mac with Mac OS X 10.6 or later to install and run. If you’ve tried the new version and have any feedback to offer, please let us know in the comments.

Where your iOS 7 and iMessage bugs are concerned, a fix may be on the way.

Per AppleInsider and the Wall Street Journal, Apple on Tuesday said it was aware of an issue a number of iPhone users have been experiencing with iMessage since upgrading to iOS 7, noting that a fix is coming soon to patch the problem.

The company told The Wall Street Journal in a statement that it is aware of an apparent iMessage glitch in which some users’ messages go unsent, unreceived or sent as a text. The problem appears to affect a variety of iPhone models running iOS 7.

Apple has released the following statement:
“We are aware of an issue that affects a fraction of a percent of our iMessage users, and we will have a fix available in an upcoming software update. In the meantime, we encourage any users having problems to reference our troubleshooting documents or contact AppleCare to help resolve their issue. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes impacted users.”

Since Apple released iOS 7 on Sept. 18, a number of threads pertaining to the issue have been created on Apple’s Support Communities webpage, the earliest of which dates back to launch day. The frequency of posts has increased, however, especially since the last iOS 7.0.2 update went live last week.

For many users, the following procedure seems to have worked in the short term:
Disable iMessage in Settings -> Messages,

While the method worked, and continues to work, for most iPhone owners afflicted with the iMessage bug, some have reported that the message failures reappeared after a few hours, forcing them to repeat the steps above.

Apple did not make clear when it plans to roll out the patch, though reports on Tuesday claimed a third iOS 7 update, dubbed iOS 7.0.3, has been distributed to employees and select partners.

The MacBook Air SMC Update v1.9 is available as a 1.09 megabyte download for MacBook Air notebooks released in 2012 and 2013. It fixes a “rare” problem where the battery stops working, the battery is no longer recognized, or the system hangs when the battery has a charge that’s less than one percent.

The MacBook Pro SMC Firmware Update 1.7 is available as a 1 megabyte download for non-Retina MacBook Pro laptops released since 2012. Apple says that the update fixes a “rare” problem where a battery that has over 1,000 charge cycles shuts down or stops working.

The MacBook Pro Retina SMC Update v1.1 is available as a 504 kilobyte download that fixes a few problems, including Power Nap bug fixes, and a “rare” issue with slow frame rates in games on the 15-inch model. This update is for Retina MacBook Pros only.

All of the updates can be obtained using the links above or by running Software Update.

If you’ve tried the firmware updates and have any feedback to offer, let us know in the comments.

On Wednesday, Google released version 30.0.1599.66 of its Chrome web browser. The update, a 53.7 megabyte download, adds the following fixes and changes:

Fixes and Improvements:
– Easier searching by image.

– A number of new apps/extension APIs.

– Lots of under the hood changes for stability and performance.

Security Fixes:
– Races in Web Audio.

– Out of bounds read in Window.prototype object.

– Address bar spoofing related to the “204 No Content” status code.

– Use after free in inline-block rendering.

– Use-after-free in Web Audio.

– Use-after-free in XSLT.

– Use-after-free in PPAPI.

– Use-after-free in XML document parsing.

– Use after free in the Windows color chooser dialog.

– Address bar spoofing via a malformed scheme.

– Address bar spoofing related to the “204 No Content” status code.

– Out of bounds read in Web Audio.

– Use-after-free in DOM.

– Memory corruption in V8.

– Out of bounds read in URL parsing.

– Use-after-free in resource loader.

– Use-after-free in template element.

– Various fixes from internal audits, fuzzing and other initiatives (Chrome 30).

– Use-after-free in ICU.

Google Chrome 30.0.1599.66 requires an Intel-based Mac with Mac OS X 10.6 or later to install and run. If you’ve tried the new version and have any feedback to offer, please let us know in the comments.

On Wednesday, software giant Google released version 7.1.2.2019 of its popular Google Earth program. The new version, a 45 megabyte download, adds the following fixes and changes:
– The “Enable Controller” option in user preferences is now turned off by default. This prevents red directional arrows from displaying as a result of uncalibrated joysticks and other controllers being connected to Earth at startup.

– For enhanced security, “Use HTTPS for Google connections” is now toggled on by default.

On Wednesday, shareware developer Maintain released version 6.8.1 of CocktailCocktail (Mountain Lion Edition), the popular shareware utility program that allows for additional Mac OS X system tests. The new version, a 5.6 megabyte download, adds the following fixes and features:
– Improvements to the Pilot scheduler. When updating from version 6.7.1 or earlier, the scheduler will be automatically disabled and have to be enabled manually.

– Addresses an issue in which Cocktail may crash at startup.

– Fixed compatibility issues with QuarkXPress 10.

– Updated Automator actions.

Cocktail 6.8.1 retails for a US$19.00 shareware registration fee and requires an Intel-based Mac running Mac OS X 10.8 or later to install and run.

If you’ve tried the new version and have any feedback to offer, please let us know in the comments.

To quote the classic “Aliens”: “Is this going to be a stand up fight, sir, or just another bug hunt?”

Per Boy Genius Report, Apple is rumored to roll out another minor update to iOS 7 next week, addressing several small and lingering issues in the company’s latest mobile operating system.

The iOS 7.0.3 update has been released to employees and select external partners for testing according to the article. The new version is said to be made available in advance of iOS 7.1’s expected reveal alongside new iPads at Apple’s rumored October event.

The new build may address performance issues that have lingered since iOS 7’s debut last month as well as new lock screen bypass security concerns that have surfaced since last week’s iOS 7.0.2 release. For comparison, iOS 7.0.2 carries build number 11A501.

The same site incorrectly claimed that Apple would release a seventh beta of iOS 7 in August. Apple instead skipped from iOS beta 6 to iOS 7 Golden Master on Sept. 10.

Apple released iOS 7.0.1 with “bug fixes and improvements” as an over-the-air update for the iPhone 5s and 5c on the handsets’ launch day, with iOS 7.0.2 following just six days later to address bugs related to lockscreen passcode security.

Per AppleInsider and multiple reports on Apple’s Support Communities webpage, a number iPhone owners who recently upgraded to iOS 7 are experiencing issues with iMessage, though a simple software reset may resolve the problem, at least temporarily.

The users have reported an apparent iMessage bug that is causing messages to go unsent, unreceived or sent as a text on a variety of iPhones models running iOS 7. Others complain that iMessages are not being converted to SMS texts, as would be the case if Apple’s servers were down, and are simply not being sent.

Some threads date back to Sept. 18, when Apple released the latest iOS to the public, though posts regarding the perceived issue have become increasingly frequent since the most recent iOS 7.0.2 update went live last week.

Support Communities forum members may have discovered a solution, however. Users are finding success with the following procedure: disable iMessage in Settings -> Messages, reset the iPhone’s Network Settings under Settings -> General -> Reset, then reenable iMessage. The method was also reported to be successful, at least in the short term.

There are variations on the method that include shutting down the handset for three to five minutes, though the technique has seen mixed results.

It is unclear how widespread the iMessage problem is at this point in time.

The purported iMessage troubles are the latest in a string of minor bugs users have reported following Apple’s launch of iOS 7 less than two weeks ago. The company subsequently pushed out two updates, the first being a day-one patch that dealt with the iPhone 5s’ Touch ID sensor, while the second squashed a lock screen passcode bypass bug.

If you’ve seen the issue on your end, please let us know in the comments.

Not only did the U.S. government enter a shutdown today, so did your complimentary iCloud storage.

Per The Unofficial Apple Weblog, Apple has sent out emails informing iCloud users their complimentary iCloud storage has expired. The complimentary iCloud storage was a free extra 20 GB of storage for MobileMe members. Now all those members will be downgraded to the free 5 GB of iCloud storage all iCloud members get.

While any free storage is generally a good deal, Apple’s complimentary 5 GB now has to weigh against the 7 GB Microsoft has been offering with its SkyDrive service, although it still readily trumps Dropbox’s free 2 GB of storage space.